Teaching & Learning
- Use of AI for coursework and assignments is primarily at instructor discretion
- The university also provides sample syllabus options ranging from complete prohibition to full allowance
- Students must follow course- and assignment-specific rules, and unauthorized use can be treated as an academic integrity violation
Because AI-supported service expectations likely vary across courses and assignments, students should not assume that a use permitted in one course or assignment is permitted in another.
Instructors retain authority to decide whether, how, and when students may use AI tools in their courses and assignments, as long as expectations are clearly communicated and consistent with University policy, law, accessibility obligations, and academic integrity standards.
AI Use is Prohibited in All Situations: For this course, the use of AI tools (e.g., Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude) are not allowed under any circumstances, as they potentially inhibit skills and knowledge that students gain by direct discovery and practice. Unauthorized use of AI tools for any purposes in this course is considered an academic integrity violation.
AI Use Requires Prior Permission: For this course, the use of AI tools (e.g., Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude) is allowed only when written permission (e.g., in assignment instructions, on Moodle, by email, etc.) is given by the instructor prior to use of the AI tool.
AI Use Allowed Only with Proper Citation: For this course, the use of A.I. tools (e.g., Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude) is allowed for specific assignments, but only when determined by the instructor to be in support of the course learning goals.
AI Use Allowed with No Citation Required: In this course, students are allowed to use AI tools (e.g., Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude) on all work and assignments. No citation of AI use is required.
- The university does not set a separate university-wide rule specifically for exams and quizzes in the provided sources
- Instead, AI use during assessed work falls under instructor-controlled course and assignment policies, and unauthorized use where prohibited is treated as an academic integrity violation
AI-supported services can be used in a variety of ways, so policies are likely to be different between classes and even between assignments within the same class. For each class and assignment, make sure you know your instructors’ policies regarding responsible use of AI-supported services. Some instructors may encourage their use, some may allow you to use them in certain circumstances, and some may not allow them at all.
Instructors retain authority to decide whether, how, and when students may use AI tools in their courses and assignments, as long as expectations are clearly communicated and consistent with University policy, law, accessibility obligations, and academic integrity standards.
Unauthorized use of AI-supported services for any purposes in this course is considered an academic integrity violation.
- Students remain responsible for submitted work and are expected to verify AI-generated content for accuracy
- Students may use AI-supported services in ways permitted by their instructors, but the university cautions against relying on AI in ways that bypass learning
Students should always follow AI-supported services expectations outlined in course syllabi, in assignment instructions, and established by their instructors.
When AI-supported service use is permitted, you may be expected to:
* Cite AI-supported services as you would cite any other source, using citation styles (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.)
* Disclose how you used AI-supported services
* Explain your work and process
* Verify AI-supported service-generated content for accuracy
The primary purpose of academic work is learning. Students should be cautious about relying on AI-supported services in ways that bypass critical thinking, problem-solving, reflection, reading, writing, or other core learning activities. While AI-supported services may make some tasks easier, overreliance can reduce opportunities for skill development and intellectual growth.
The goal is not merely to complete an assignment, but to develop knowledge, judgment, and expertise.
- The university does not publish a separate student programming-assignment rule in the provided sources
- Code-related AI use is governed by instructor permission for coursework, while institution-level guidance also recognizes code generation as a use that should be reviewed and tested by the human author
Instructors retain authority to decide whether, how, and when students may use AI tools in their courses and assignments, as long as expectations are clearly communicated and consistent with University policy, law, accessibility obligations, and academic integrity standards.
AI-supported services were used to assist with code generation, which was subsequently reviewed and tested by the author.
Research
- The university warns that AI output may omit scholarship, misrepresent sources, invent citations, or introduce errors and bias
- Researchers may use AI-supported services for drafting, editing, and idea generation, but scholarly judgment and human oversight remain required
AI-supported services can assist with tasks such as literature discovery, coding, data analysis, drafting, editing, and idea generation. However, researchers should recognize AI's limitations. Content generated by AI-supported services may:
* Omit relevant scholarship
* Misrepresent sources
* Invent citations
* Introduce factual errors
* Reflect hidden assumptions or biases
Scholarly expertise, peer review, and disciplinary judgment remain essential components of the research process.
- AI may be used in research data analysis, but researchers must handle shared data appropriately and match tool use to data sensitivity
- The university specifically calls for extra caution with human-subjects data, student information, protected health information, proprietary information, unpublished research, industry-sponsored projects, and export-controlled information
AI-supported services can assist with tasks such as literature discovery, coding, data analysis, drafting, editing, and idea generation.
Researchers must ensure that data shared with AI-supported services is handled appropriately and in accordance with University policy, sponsor requirements, contractual obligations, and applicable laws. Extra caution should be exercised when working with:
* Human-subjects data
* Student information
* Protected health information
* Proprietary or confidential information
* Unpublished research
* Industry-sponsored projects
* Export-controlled information
Researchers should verify that any AI-supported services used are appropriate for the sensitivity of the information involved.
- The provided sources do not give a specific rule for grant proposals, IRB applications, or ethics declarations beyond those general research safeguards
- The university links AI use in research to existing university policy, sponsor requirements, contractual obligations, and applicable laws, and it emphasizes that human scholarly judgment remains essential
Researchers must ensure that data shared with AI-supported services is handled appropriately and in accordance with University policy, sponsor requirements, contractual obligations, and applicable laws.
Scholarly expertise, peer review, and disciplinary judgment remain essential components of the research process.
These guidelines complement and work in concert with existing University policies, including but not limited to:
* FERPA
* ACAD 107 Academic Research Misconduct
* UNIV 409 Ethics Act
* UNIV 449 Website Privacy Policy
Academic Integrity
- When AI use is permitted, disclosure and citation may be required, and the exact requirement can vary by instructor or course policy
- CCU guidance says students may be expected to cite and disclose AI use, and sample syllabus language includes both citation-required and no-citation course options
When AI-supported service use is permitted, you may be expected to:
* Cite AI-supported services as you would cite any other source, using citation styles (e.g., APA, MLA, Chicago, etc.)
* Disclose how you used AI-supported services
AI Use Requires Prior Permission: For this course, the use of AI tools (e.g., Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude) is allowed only when written permission (e.g., in assignment instructions, on Moodle, by email, etc.) is given by the instructor prior to use of the AI tool. If students then choose to use AI tools, they must properly cite that use.
AI Use Allowed Only with Proper Citation: For this course, the use of A.I. tools (e.g., Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude) is allowed for specific assignments, but only when determined by the instructor to be in support of the course learning goals. Assignments for which AI tools are permitted are clearly identified by the instructor and noted in this syllabus or assignment instructions. If students choose to use AI tools, they must properly cite that use.
AI Use Allowed with No Citation Required: In this course, students are allowed to use AI tools (e.g., Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude) on all work and assignments. No citation of AI use is required.
Use of artificial intelligence (AI), unless approved and with appropriate citations, is an academic integrity violation.
- Unauthorized AI use and failure to properly cite authorized use can be treated as academic integrity violations
- For enforcement-related tool use, faculty and staff are told not to upload student work or data into non-CCU-credentialed AI detectors
Unauthorized use of AI-supported services for any purposes in this course is considered an academic integrity violation.
Unauthorized use of AI tools and/or failure to properly cite authorized use in this course are considered academic integrity violations.
Use of artificial intelligence (AI), unless approved and with appropriate citations, is an academic integrity violation.
Don’t load any student work or data into non-CCU-credentialed AI-supported service detectors
Institutional & Administrative
- Faculty and staff are encouraged to be transparent about their own AI use and to use CCU-credentialed services when appropriate
- They are also instructed not to load student or university work into non-CCU-credentialed AI systems or non-CCU-credentialed AI detectors
Do be transparent about how YOU will use AI-supported services (if at all)
Do feel free to use CCU-credentialed AI-supported services, but make sure you are logged in with CCU credentials
Don’t load any student work/data or university work/data into non-CCU-credentialed AI-supported services; currently, CCU uses Microsoft Copilot when logged in with CCU credentials
Don’t load any student work or data into non-CCU-credentialed AI-supported service detectors
- CCU ties AI use to data sensitivity and directs users to enter internal or confidential university and student data only into CCU-credentialed services that match the data classification
- The provided guidance identifies Microsoft Copilot, when logged in with CCU credentials, as the current CCU-credentialed AI-supported service and warns that other public-facing tools may violate FERPA or university policies
When considering whether to use AI-supported services, consider this hierarchy of security categorization, as outlined in UNIV 483 Data Privacy, Classification and Protection.
Currently, if logged in with CCU credentials:
* Microsoft Copilot and Microsoft Office with Copilot embedded do not contribute to the larger external AI structure
* Zoom AI companion should not contribute to larger structure
* Other common, public-facing AI-supported services may violate FERPA or University policies because information contributes to their larger structures
Only enter Internal or Confidential data, including most student work and University data, into CCU-credentialed AI-supported services for that data classification. CCU currently uses Microsoft Copilot when logged in with CCU credentials. Check AI Central for updates as additional tools may be approved.
Don’t load any student work/data or university work/data into non-CCU-credentialed AI-supported services; currently, CCU uses Microsoft Copilot when logged in with CCU credentials
- It also notes that some policies and guidelines are not finalized
- The university frames its guidance as applying across faculty, staff, students, contractors, volunteers, and affiliates and says it complements existing university policies
- CCU states an institution-level AI approach centered on using AI boldly, responsibly, and transparently, with a strong preference for augmentation rather than replacement of human judgment
Note: This webpage exists only for information-sharing purposes. The policies and guidelines are not finalized. Until this becomes publicly available, faculty, staff, students, families, and community members should use coastal.edu/ai/ for Artificial Intelligence-related information.
Coastal Carolina University engages AI-supported services boldly, responsibly, and transparently to advance student success, scholarly productivity, and institutional effectiveness. CCU emphasizes augmentation over automation, ensuring that AI-supported services strengthen, rather than replace, human judgment, creativity, and expertise.
CCU approaches AI-supported services with an ethos grounded in human judgment, transparency, responsibility, and care. We believe AI-supported services should expand opportunity, deepen learning, strengthen scholarship, and improve how we work without eroding trust, equity, privacy, or academic values. This ethos informs how decisions are made, how experiments are conducted, and how success is evaluated across the institution.
These guidelines apply to University work by CCU faculty, staff, students, contractors, volunteers, and affiliates on University-owned devices, personal devices, and/or vendor-hosted platforms.
DocuMark: Responsible AI Use for Academic Integrity
Knowing your institution's AI policy is step one. DocuMark helps enforce it fairly by empowering universities to manage AI-generated content, prevent cheating, and support student writing through responsible AI use.
Common Questions About Coastal Carolina University's AI Policies
Coastal Carolina University has defined AI policies in 12 of 12 categories, with an overall coverage score of 100%.
When AI use is permitted, disclosure and citation may be required, and the exact requirement can vary by instructor or course policy. CCU guidance says students may be expected to cite and disclose AI use, and sample syllabus language includes both citation-required and no-citation course options.
Unauthorized AI use and failure to properly cite authorized use can be treated as academic integrity violations. For enforcement-related tool use, faculty and staff are told not to upload student work or data into non-CCU-credentialed AI detectors.
CCU ties AI use to data sensitivity and directs users to enter internal or confidential university and student data only into CCU-credentialed services that match the data classification. The provided guidance identifies Microsoft Copilot, when logged in with CCU credentials, as the current CCU-credentialed AI-supported service and warns that other public-facing tools may violate FERPA or university policies.